The Sedlec Ossuary is a small Roman Catholic chapel in Sedlec, a suburb of Kutná Hora, set beneath the Cemetery Church of All Saints. Its decoration is made from human bones, estimated at between 40,000 and 70,000 people, many of them victims of plague and war. The bones form a chandelier, bell-shaped mounds in the corners and the Schwarzenberg coat of arms. The chapel takes less time than the old town around it, so plan a longer stay in Kutná Hora to see both.
From monastery to ossuary
The chapel belongs to the Cistercian monastery complex in Sedlec, which existed before the town was founded. A legend says that in 1278 Abbot Henry travelled to the Holy Land and brought back soil from Golgotha, which he spread over the monastery cemetery. After that, many wealthy people wanted to be buried there.
The cemetery filled up during the plague of the 14th century and the Hussite Wars in the 15th century. When no ground was left, bones were moved into the crypt below the church. Most of the remains belong to people who died in those 14th and 15th century epidemics and conflicts.
After the monastery was closed, the church and ossuary passed to the Schwarzenberg family. In the 19th century, a local woodcarver, František Rint, arranged the bones into the decorations seen today.
What is inside
Four bell-shaped mounds of bones stand in the corners of the chapel. From the centre of the nave hangs a chandelier made of bones, which is said to include at least one of every bone in the human body.
Garlands of skulls and femurs run across the vaulted ceiling, and some decorations combine pelvic bones with skulls to form flower-like shapes. Bone monstrances and pillars stand near the altar. The Schwarzenberg coat of arms is also made from bones, and it is one of the most detailed pieces in the room.
The ossuary is a small room, so the decorations are close together. Take time to look at each part rather than moving straight to the centre.
Planning the visit
The Cemetery Church of All Saints is open to walk through, and you can wander among the gravestones and step into the church without a ticket. You need a ticket to go down into the ossuary, which you can buy at the information centre.
Kutná Hora lies about 60 km east of Prague, so many visitors make it a day trip. From the town station, the Sedlec area is roughly a 10 to 15 minute walk. The historic centre is about a 30 minute walk from Sedlec, and St. Barbara's Church is one of the main sights there.
FAQ
Is there an entry fee?
You can walk through the cemetery and into the church without a ticket. A ticket is needed to go down into the ossuary, and you can buy it at the information centre.
How long do you need?
Plan about 20 to 40 minutes for the ossuary itself. Add more time if you also want to see the old town.
Can you take photos inside?
No. Photography is not allowed inside the ossuary.
How far is it from Kutná Hora station?
It is about a 10 to 15 minute walk from the station. The Sedlec stop is also a short walk away.
